Hi guys - My wife and I just got back from a great week in the Caribbean with a prominent Yankee and his girlfriend. I AM NOW a Yankee fan!
Getting right to it..we need starting pitching and more starting pitching..who is it going to be? Maybe Pettitte will come back one more year so that would be a number 5. Maybe Wang is healed enough to come back and be a 3 or 4. That would only leave one spot to fill. Lackey? And that's the best case. If Pettitte call its quits and the Yankees don't bring Wang back then we need three.
Those posters are awesome. ----------- CC and AJ are clearly 1 & 2 next year. Andy is coming back, so that's 3 or 4, depending on how Joba pitches out of the gate. Huges will be back in the rotation come spring. That's 5. Kennedy will get another opportunity in Tampa, that's 6. Wang will probably get a small contract to return, and get the opportunity to work himself back. That's a potential 7. Then you've got Aceves who will almost surely get the opportunity to try out for a starting role, which brings us to 8 starters when pitchers and catchers report. While I doubt the Yankees sit quietly this winter regarding starting pitching, I doubt they make any big pushes (unless the chance at Halladay becomes realistic.) More likely, as has been pointed out, and I've come around to the thinking, the Yankees will make an effort to save a little bit this winter, and make that push for Mauer.
As much as it pisses me off, I'd be surprised if the Yankees don't start Hughes off in the bullpen. Also, don't be surprised if the Yankees pull off a trade for a mid level guy (I hear that Atlanta is looking to get out of Derek Lowe's contract, for example.)
Really? Why? Pass. I'd rather they just sign someone. I don't think they'd be too keen to take on Lowe's contract, anyhow.
Mainly because of the way that they handled Chamberlain, and because everybody in New York is so constantly concerned with the "bridge to Mo." Personally I say let Robertson and Aceves do the job, but I have a bad feeling that the Yankees won't see it that way. I'd rather shy away from Lowe as well but he's just one example of the kind of guy they'd be looking for. Randy Wolf is a free agent who would fit the bill as well.
See, I think Robertson's performance in the playoffs, coupled with Hughes' performance during the same period, makes it the ideal time to put Hughes back in the rotation. Robertson can be inserted immediately as the 8th inning guy, and even the neanderthal Yankees fans would have to say "Yeah, that guy earned it." I'm willing to bring in Wolf. I had wanted Lowe when he was on the market, but no thanks now. Honestly, I just don't think we need to spend on pitching this year. If it weren't for Halladay being put on the block, I wouldn't have even discussed starting pitching this winter. I honestly believe the Yankees need to make a serious attempt to see what they have with Hughes, Chamberlain and Kennedy.
Everybody in NY is so constantly concerned about it except the two people who matter most: Girardi and Cashman. (The fools!) They know where Hughes' value lies, and he shouldn't have the innings limit that Joba had. I'd hope Marte and Robertson are given a chance in that role before Hughes. Free agents are fine. I just don't think they're going to trade talent for an overpaid #4 starter.
One thing I will say though. I'd rather Marte not become the 8th inning guy. Only because once you're in that role, that's all you do. It's even worse than the closer role. Marte's value lies in being able to be brought in to get the big out against the big lefty. Having both Coke and him for that is huge. I won't complain if he earns it, but I'd much rather keep him in the specialist role.
